power steering very difficult

[meanstoanend]

Hello,

My 89 Grand Am has been leaking power steering fluid for a couple of years.
About a month ago, it suddenly became extremely difficult to steer in
the morning and at low speeds (even with plenty of steering fluid). Under the hood, it looks like there is
fluid everywhere on the passenger side.

I was hoping I could live without power steering, but I'm finding it
almost impossible to parallel park on the street.

Does anyone know a ballpark figure I can expect when taking this in
for repair? I've done a little research in some newsgroups, and have
seen $300-$800 USD - is this about right?

Finally - what is normally the cause of this? A bad pump, or
something else? I've read that there was a problem on '80-'88 GM
vehicles regarding steering issues, but was this supposedly fixed
after '88?

Thanks,
Jamie

[blk95ga]

might just be the high pressure line. My was leaking pretty bad and if this is the case.....i prolly paid around $120 for a shop to replace/fix it. To check this, turn your car on and turn your wheels all the way right or all the way left and have someone look and see if you see fluid squirting out. If so, it is the high pressure line.

[indiangangster1]

i had a problem w/ my power steering before. but it was my fault! see some one told me that a front wheel drive car could not do a donut, well i was bored and somehow, i proved them wrong. i ended up messing up muy power steering pump, and man! was my steering wheel hard to turn.

[93GASE3300]

it could be a bad pump or it could be a blocked power steering line or even a rack. Replacement of all the components could be quite expensive my ballpark figure for everything would be 1200 maybe more if done at a shop.